Angels & Demons - Hassaan Bin Khalil

The Tao of Physics
God: The Evidence
One of the bookends was etched with a quote:
True science discovers God waiting behind every door.
Pope Pius XII
“Leonardo was a Catholic priest,” Kohler said.
Langdon turned. “A priest? I thought you said he was a physicist.”
“He was both. Men of science and religion are not unprecedented in history. Leonardo was one of
them. He considered physics ‘God’s natural law.’ He claimed God’s handwriting was visible in the
natural order all around us. Through science he hoped to prove God’s existence to the doubting masses.
He considered himself a theo-physicist.”
Theo-physicist? Langdon thought it sounded impossibly oxymoronic.
“The field of particle physics,” Kohler said, “has made some shocking discoveries lately—
discoveries quite spiritual in implication. Leonardo was responsible for many of them.”
Langdon studied CERN’s director, still trying to process the bizarre surroundings. “Spirituality and
physics?” Langdon had spent his career studying religious history, and if there was one recurring
theme, it was that science and religion had been oil and water since day one… archenemies…
unmixable.
“Vetra was on the cutting edge of particle physics,” Kohler said. “He was starting to fuse science and
religion… showing that they complement each other in most unanticipated ways. He called the field
New Physics.” Kohler pulled a book from the shelf and handed it to Langdon.
Langdon studied the cover. God, Miracles, and the New Physics–by Leonardo Vetra.
“The field is small,” Kohler said, “but it’s bringing fresh answers to some old questions—questions
about the origin of the universe and the forces that bind us all. Leonardo believed his research had the
potential to convert millions to a more spiritual life. Last year he categorically proved the existence of
an energy force that unites us all. He actually demonstrated that we are all physically connected… that
the molecules in your body are intertwined with the molecules in mine… that there is a single force
moving within all of us.”
Langdon felt disconcerted. And the power of God shall unite us all. “Mr. Vetra actually found a way
to demonstrate that particles are connected?”
“Conclusive evidence. A recent Scientific American article hailed New Physics as a surer path to God
than religion itself.”
The comment hit home. Langdon suddenly found himself thinking of the antireligious Illuminati.
Reluctantly, he forced himself to permit a momentary intellectual foray into the impossible. If the
Illuminati were indeed still active, would they have killed Leonardo to stop him from bringing his
religious message to the masses? Langdon shook off the thought. Absurd! The Illuminati are ancient
history! All academics know that!
“Vetra had plenty of enemies in the scientific world,” Kohler went on. “Many scientific purists
despised him. Even here at CERN. They felt that using analytical physics to support religious
principles was a treason against science.”
“But aren’t scientists today a bit less defensive about the church?”
Kohler grunted in disgust. “Why should we be? The church may not be burning scientists at the stake
anymore, but if you think they’ve released their reign over science, ask yourself why half the schools in